By Finnell                                              H.R. No. 18
       74R929 WMS-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The Possum Kingdom Relays is the oldest track and
    1-2  field competition in the State of Texas; and
    1-3        WHEREAS, Graham High School head track coach Cy Young
    1-4  initiated this exceptional event in 1947, and his outstanding
    1-5  efforts produced a level of success that ensured both the meet's
    1-6  longevity and the highest quality of competition; and
    1-7        WHEREAS, Originally consisting of a six-lane cinder track,
    1-8  the meet's facilities were upgraded in 1967, when the Graham Lions
    1-9  Club constructed an all-weather track at Newton Field; the track
   1-10  was expanded to eight lanes in 1977, and the installation of
   1-11  additional equipment purchased from the 1976 Montreal Olympics
   1-12  created a state-of-the-art milieu for competition; and
   1-13        WHEREAS, Among the many superb athletes who have participated
   1-14  at the Possum Kingdom Relays are Olympians Dean Smith of Graham and
   1-15  Randy Matson of Pampa and Southwest Conference coaches Clyde Hart
   1-16  of Baylor University and Ted Nelson of Texas A&M University; and
   1-17        WHEREAS, The 1994 Possum Kingdom Relays boasted a field of
   1-18  more than 1,000 young athletes from Texas and Oklahoma high schools
   1-19  with competition in two divisions for boys and girls events; and
   1-20        WHEREAS, Encouraging young people in their pursuit of
   1-21  excellence in the field of athletic endeavor is a goal close to the
   1-22  heart of many Texans, and those who tirelessly labor to create the
   1-23  finest venue for such competition are indeed worthy of special
   1-24  praise and recognition; now, therefore, be it
    2-1        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
    2-2  Legislature hereby honor the Possum King Relays for its unsurpassed
    2-3  longevity as the oldest continuously held high school track and
    2-4  field competition in the State of Texas; and, be it further
    2-5        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
    2-6  prepared for event organizers as an expression of high regard by
    2-7  the Texas House of Representatives.